Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million volunteers from professional and community leaders from over 200 countries. Members of Rotary clubs work to provide humanitarian aid, encourage high ethical standards, and promote peace. Rotary clubs fund projects that address issues like poverty, disease, lack of clean water and education. Notable initiatives include the decades-long effort to eradicate polio worldwide through immunization efforts.

1. rotary
this is rotary

2. rotary
1.2 million business,
professional, and
community leaders
More than 200 countries
and geographical areas
Providing humanitarian service
Building goodwill and peace
in the world

3. What
is Rotary?

4. Rotary is a global network of commu-
nity volunteers. Rotary members are
business, professional, and community
leaders who provide humanitarian
service, encourage high ethical
standards, and help build goodwill
and peace in the world.
Projects
Over 32,000 Rotary clubs in more Rotary clubs participate in a broad
range of humanitarian, intercultural,
than 200 countries and geographi-
and educational activities designed
cal areas initiate service projects to to improve the human condition.
Rotary’s humanitarian grants support
address today’s challenges, including
club projects that provide health care
illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, and medical supplies, clean water,
food, job training, youth develop-
lack of clean water, and
ment, and education to millions of
environmental concerns. people in need, particularly in the
developing world.
In addition, Rotary provides more
than 200 grants each year to fund
the work of Rotary volunteers, who
travel to parts of the world where
their technical expertise and knowl-
edge are most needed to alleviate
hardship and solve problems.

5. Peace The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies
Program in Thailand offers mid- to
Rotary builds understanding through upper-level professionals a short-term
international scholarships, exchange alternative for training in conflict
programs, and humanitarian grants. resolution and mediation strategies.
The Rotary Centers for International
Studies in peace and conflict resolution Since 1947, some 35,000 students
is an innovative program designed to from 110 countries have studied
educate tomorrow’s peacemakers. abroad as Rotary Ambassadorial
Scholars. Rotary’s Group Study
Hosted at seven leading universities Exchange has helped more than
around the globe, the program funds 45,000 young professionals explore
60 Rotary World Peace Fellows for their career fields in other countries.
graduate studies in international rela- And each year, some 9,000 secondary-
tions, conflict studies, and negotiation school students experience life in
— providing promising leaders the another country through Rotary
tools to further the cause of peace. Youth Exchange.

6. Polio Eradication
The savings to be realized from polio
eradication is potentially as high as
In 1985, Rotary launched PolioPlus, $1.5 billion per year — funds that could
an ambitious program to immunize be used to address other public health
the world’s children against polio. priorities. The savings in human suffering
Rotary’s grassroots leadership, vol- will be immeasurable.
unteer support, and initial funding
for vaccine provided the catalyst for
the World Health Assembly’s resolu-
tion in 1988 to eradicate polio
worldwide. Spearheading partners
of the Global Polio Eradication
Initiative are the World Health
Organization, Rotary International,
U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, and UNICEF.
As a result of this partnership’s
efforts, polio cases have dropped
by 99 percent since 1988 and the
world stands on the threshold of
eradicating the disease. Rotary
members have given more than
US$650 million and countless
hands-on volunteer hours to this
critical effort.

7. Progress
and 49 Rotary members served as
delegates and consultants at the
Paul P. Harris formed the world’s founding of the United Nations in
first service club, the Rotary Club of 1945.
Chicago, on 23 February 1905. More
than a century later, Rotary remains Today, Rotary holds the highest
dedicated to improving communi- consultative status given by the
ties, relations between peoples, and United Nations to nongovernmen-
world peace and understanding. tal organizations. In this capac-
Rotary’s principal motto is Service ity, Rotary has a voice within the
Above Self. UN system, allowing access to its
people and resources worldwide.
During World War II, Rotary mem-
bers became increasingly involved
in promoting international under-
standing. A Rotary conference held
in London in 1942 was a precursor
to the development of UNESCO,

8. People Rotary clubs are nonreligious,
nonpolitical, and open to every
race, culture, and creed. Members
Belonging to a Rotary club gives
represent a cross-section of local
men and women an enjoyable and
business, professional, and
organized way to make a contribu-
community leaders.
tion to their community. Rotary
members meet weekly to plan club, To learn more about a Rotary
community, and international ser- club in your community, visit
vice activities. By using their skills www.rotary.org or contact your
and expertise globally, members local club.
also enhance their professional
network, career development, and
cross-cultural understanding.

9. Contact
RI World Headquarters RI Offices
One Rotary Center Buenos Aires, Argentina
1560 Sherman Avenue New Delhi, India
Evanston, IL 60201-3698 USA Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Tel 847-866-3000 São Paulo, Brazil
Fax 847-328-8554 Seoul, Korea
or 847-328-8281 Tokyo, Japan
Zurich, Switzerland
www.rotary.org
Rotary International in Great Britain and
Ireland (RIBI)
Alcester, Warwickshire, England

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